Captain Joe's Bait & Tackle Fishing Report

INSHORE – As the weather starts to cool off some you can look for the fishing to get better.  The schools of bait fish should be coming in the Ft. Pierce Inlet with plenty of action not far behind.  The snook bite in the Ft. Pierce Inlet should be good for anglers using live baits like greenies and mullet and fishing them on the bottom at places like Judy Rock or the cleaning station and fish on the out going tides.  Also, in the Ft. Pierce Inlet the Spanish mackerel and bluefish will be showing up and they will take anything shinny.  Look for the trout and redfish in the deeper holes and channels around the flats.  They will be taking a live shrimp fished under a popping cork and fish in 5 to 7 feet of water when the water starts to cool down.  The local bridges should be holding some nice snapper, sheepshead and black drum.  Try fishing a live shrimp on a #2 hook and a 1/2 to 1oz. weight.  Around the South Jetty there should be some flounder on the beach side.  A large live shrimp or mud minnows fished on a 1/8 or 1/4oz. troll-rite hook.  In the surf the whiting & pompano bite should improve later in the month.  Shrimp, clams or sandfleas will all be a good choice.

OFFSHORE – The offshore bite has been good the last few weeks but with the cooler weather moving in you will have to pick and choose your days you go offshore.  The kings have been active in 40 to 60 feet of water and taking a live bait.  There are still some dolphin around in 100 to 300 feet of water – you just have to look for them.  They have been taking a green/yellow skirted ballyhoo or a live bait.  Most of the fish have been under 25 pounds.  There have been quite a few reports of sails jumping but not many hook ups.  Most of the fish have been in 90 to 110 feet of water.  The hot spot for cobia have been around the Boils.  These fish have been taking a Flair Hawk or a live bait.  I weighed one that was 50 pounds 2 weeks ago.  The snapper bite is still going strong when fishing over the reefs and wrecks.  Use a live bait or a piece of cut bait.  There has been plenty of big jacks and spanish mackerel chasing the bait school along the beaches and into the Ft. Pierce Inlet.